VN STANDARD - RCVS

In this issue: election time, new JVP, new look and website, European update,complaints system, mixed practiceoptions, aTP advice, reasonableadjustment, unpaid placements, eventsand meetings, exam updates.

New OSCEstations aheadNew classifications and OSCE stationscoming down the line.

VN STANDARDTHE RCVS AWARDS NEWSLETTER APRIL 2011

2 VN STANDARD – APRIL 2011

NEWS

Time is running out if you want to place yourvote! The VN and RCVS Councils elections

close a couple of days early this year, thanks to the Royal Wedding, so 5pm on Wednesday 27 April is your deadline. But with text andinternet voting available, there is no excuse tomiss the boat.

As last year, for each VN or vet who uses his or hervote, the College will contribute 20 pence to charity.This year, the chosen charity is the VeterinaryBenevolent Fund (VBF), which supports veterinarysurgeons, nurses and their families who may be facing health, financial or similar difficulties(www.vetlife.org.uk).

If you do not wish a contribution to be made on yourbehalf, please ‘opt out’: details of how to do this can be found in the election issue of RCVS News Extrawhich, together with ballot papers, was sent to all

those eligible to vote inMarch. If you have notreceived your papers,please contact Ian Holloway([email protected] 020 7202 0727).

There will be opportunityto quiz all candidatesonline at vetnurse.co.ukor vetsurgeon.org, as appropriate.

This year there are four candidates for threeseats on VN Council. Normally, all seats are for four-year terms, however, as one of the VN seats hasbecome vacant due to a member retiring mid-term, theveterinary nurse with the third largest number of voteswill sit for one year only. There are 10 candidates forthe six seats available on RCVS Council.

Painting the European picture

Visitors to the VN Department in Februarywould have found us earnestly peering at over

90 pages of application form for a Leonardo daVinci project bid – and trying to work out what weneeded to say!

We had decided it would be a good idea to share ourNursing Progress Log (NPL) development withEuropean schools of veterinary nursing but, by February,were wondering whether this was such a brilliant idea.

However, we finally managed to get the bid finished,having been encouraged along by our Europeanpartners and their cheerful information emails. Ourapplication is now being evaluated and we will bebiting nails until August for a decision.

Vectar – another Leonardo project?

If we have bid successfully, we’ll be leading a ‘Transferof Innovation’ project in October, to introduce clinicalcoach training and an NPL system to six Europeanpartner schools, in Norway, Finland, the Netherlands,Belgium, Portugal and Italy.

The teaching and recording of work-based clinicalskills in Europe is fraught with many of the same issuesas it is in the UK, with a few additional ones thrown infor good luck. How many centres in Britain, forexample, have to travel 1,000km to visit a student onplacement – like they do in Finland?

The partner schools plan to develop a European‘Clinical Teaching and Assessment Record’, along with a clinical coach training package, that will meetthe needs of European VN schools. What’s in it for us you may ask? The opportunity to further developand refine our own NPL as part of the project process, and to involve UK centres in the sharing of ideas and best practice along the way. Now all we need to do is wait patiently for news from Leonardo. Fingers crossed!

Election selections, please!VN and RCVS Council elections closing soon

“The teaching and recording ofwork-based clinical skills inEurope is fraught with many ofthe same issues as it is in the UK.”

Libby Earle, Head of Veterinary Nursing, brings us up to date with the latestEuropean project bid.

VN STANDARD – APRIL 2011 3

Jacqui Molyneux elected JVP

Mrs JacquiMolyneux,

Chairman of RCVSAwards and Vice-Chairman of VNCouncil, was electedJunior Vice-Presidentat the March meetingof RCVS Council. She was uncontestedand is due to take up office on RCVSDay, on 1 July 2011.

After graduating in 1981 from the University of Bristol,Jacqui started her career in small animal practice inLiverpool. Following her husband’s promotion, shethen moved to the North East, where she set up herown practice in a small mining town near Consett. Thispractice, which was rebuilt in 1997, was accredited asa Veterinary Hospital in 2002 and became part of theRCVS Practice Standards Scheme four years later.

Jacqui obtained her Certificate in Small Animal Surgeryin 2000 and is currently studying for a Masters inClinical Oncology with the University of Birmingham.

Awards Chairman elected to College Officer team

Throughout the last decade, she has becomeincreasingly interested in veterinary politics and wasinvited to join the Society of Practising VeterinarySurgeons (SPVS) Council in 2000 – she is currently the Society’s President.

Jacqui was elected to RCVS Council in 2005 and servedfor four years on the Disciplinary Committee, as well aschairing the Small Animal Surgery Certificate Board.

Vice-Chairman of VN Council since 2007, Jacqui haschaired the RCVS Awards Board since 2009, steeringthe development and launch of the new Level 3 Diploma.

Commenting on her election, Jacqui said: “As I havebecome more and more involved with the RCVS andthe work of its committees, I am amazed by theamount of work being done behind the scenes by bothCouncil Members and the RCVS staff. It’s sad thatmany of the profession live in fear of the RCVS as theyare only aware of its regulatory function.

“During my time on the Officer team, communicationwith the profession will be a priority, not for the vocalminority, but with the silent majority who have no ideaof the breadth of the work that the RCVS undertakeseach year,” she added.

Vets needed for VN Council

Two vacancies have arisen for veterinarysurgeons on VN Council.

The positions, which are open to veterinary surgeonsnot currently serving on RCVS Council, would beparticularly well suited to those veterinary surgeonswho have an interest in the nursing profession andsome experience of working with nurses. However,applicants need not necessarily be politically involvedwith the profession at this point.

“Veterinary nurses play a vital role in the practice teamand, with the opening of the non-statutory Register in2007, the VN profession is now recognising itsresponsibilities in terms of maintaining professionalstandards, skills and competence,” says VN CouncilChairman Liz Branscombe.

“Now, more than ever, it is important that vets from allsectors of the profession take the time to get involvedwith the regulation and development of the role of theveterinary nurse,” she adds.

Applications are invited from all veterinary surgeons,although those with some experience of working withveterinary nurses would be most relevant.

The four-year posts will require an annual timecommitment of approximately six to ten days.

For an application pack, please contact AnnetteAmato, Deputy Head of Veterinary Nursing, on 020 7202 0713 or [email protected]. Thedeadline for the receipt by RCVS of completedapplication packs is 30 April 2011.

Two places to be filled


NEWS

Plans are underway to develop a mixedpractice (including farm animal) pathway for

the new Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing,and it should be ready by autumn.

The move has been catalysed by the prevalence ofmixed practice in the Republic of Ireland. Theacceptability of an RCVS qualification to the VeterinaryCouncil of Ireland (VCI) is an important consideration;without VCI approval, no student VN may legally workin a practice south of the border.

The new pathway is being developed in conjunctionwith Greenmount College in Northern Ireland and theVCI, and the mixed practice stream will join the existingtwo pathways – equine and small animal – which werelaunched last summer.

Work commenced in January on the project and wehope that the third option will be available fromSeptember. Once developed and added to the RCVSportfolio of qualifications, this new pathway will beavailable across the UK.

“We very much hope that employers with mixedpractices, and colleges in areas where livestockfarming is prevalent, will consider the new mixedpractice pathway as an alternative to the current smallanimal-focused training,” says Head of VeterinaryNursing, Libby Earle.

Mixed practicepathway on trackAutumn delivery expected

ACOVENE visitorshit London

In March, delegates from European schools ofveterinary nursing joined the ACOVENE* Board

for a day of visitor training at the RCVS. This wasthe first time, since ACOVENE was established in 2007, that the Board had organised visitortraining, and it was encouraging to see delegatesfrom a number of schools volunteering to become involved.

The day was fairly packed with activities, all based onreal college situations. Delegates worked in smallgroups to evaluate documentation, plan visitationagendas and identify potential issues for exploration ata site visit. Communication was a major theme acrossthe day, with issues such as cultural differences inveterinary nurse training, getting to meet the rightpeople and constructing a visitation report generatinglively discussion. At the end of the day, ACOVENErecruited a number of potential visitors (important forthe college re-accreditation visits due in 2012) andreceived some excellent feedback. Some of the(exhausted) European delegates stayed in London for the ensuing weekend to do a spot of sightseeingand recover!

*ACOVENE is the European organisation that accreditsprogrammes of veterinary nurse education and training. SevenEU schools are currently accredited. In addition, the RCVS is anaffiliate member, meaning that all RCVS-approved centres meetthe accreditation standards and can use the ACOVENE logo.

Visitor training day a success

Student figures upThirty-one new training practices, including eightauxiliary training practices, have been approved thisyear, bringing to 1,559 the number of practices whereveterinary nurse students can train. Over the 12 monthsprior to February, 1,168 new student VNs enrolled onthe new Level 3 Diploma, compared to 1,121 onto theold award over the same period last year. By March,we’d issued log-ins to the Nursing Progress Log to1,800 students, both new and those with a Level 2 NVQqualification transitioning to complete their training.


Student veterinary nurses from Duchy Collegehave been among the first to make use of a

new abattoir facility at Dartmoor Zoological Parkin Devon, where they have learned from the zoo’sresident slaughterman Andy Goatman, and invitedveterinary surgeon Chris Bamford, via practicaldemonstrations of equine dissection and anatomy.

The zoo opened the in-house butchering facilitypredominantly to provide the park’s big cats with freshmeat. The abattoir is divided by a glass screen thatseparates the students from the carcasses, givingthem an unrestricted view while protecting them forhealth and safety reasons.

Carol Knight, Animal Care and Veterinary NursingCurriculum Area Manager for Duchy College, said thestudents were thrilled to witness dissection on such abig scale, and it had proved particularly useful now thatthe Level 3 Diploma includes equine anatomy:“Attending the dissection session was a brilliant andfascinating opportunity for these students to see theactual workings of a horse ‘in the flesh’, and of courseour normal laboratories at the college are unable toprovide the students with the space for such largepractical demonstrations. Andy was able to take the

animals apart, whilst Chris was able to provide themwith a veterinarian’s point of view,” she said.

Student nurse Emma Field said: “I found being able tolook at the brain and organs particularly useful, as wellas being able to study the hind limb in such detail.”

The zoo says that teachers and lecturers from othercolleges are also booking to make use of the facilitiesfor their own students: anyone interested shouldcontact Amy Collie on 01752 837645.

Making the cutVN students benefit from zoo’s new abattoir

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ADVICE

Since the Level 3 Diploma came on stream inSeptember, we have had an increase in

training practices and, for the first time, smallerpractices have been able to take VN students.There were 57 new auxiliary training practices(aTPs) on-board at the time of writing. Thesepractices can provide an excellent learningenvironment for student veterinary nurses.However, they have limitations, often in relation totheir clinical facilities and/or case load and,because of this, have special agreements withtheir approving ‘primary’ centre.

These aTP agreements set out how students will fill inthe gaps in their practical training and experienceresulting from the practice’s limitations. They aretripartite, ie between the aTP, the primary centre andthe veterinary practice (or other environment) that willprovide requisite additional training and experience.

Agreements need to set out very clearly the trainingand experience to be provided, the potential number ofstudents that can be accommodated, the length of

time involved, duration of the agreement and (ifapplicable) any other business considerationssurrounding the arrangements. Centres need to besure that they gain all three signatures to theagreement (we are seeing some that are not signed!).

Where a student is registered at a college that isn’t theaTP’s primary centre, that college will need to agreepractical training arrangements, ie be satisfied with theaTP agreement (or make other arrangements). Everycentre must ensure that their registered students willhave access to the requisite practical training,experience and support in clinical veterinary practice.

Ensuring aTPs can fill the training gaps

Mind the gap

The disciplinary system for registeredveterinary nurses (RVNs) is now in place.

From 1 April 2011, the College has been able to acceptcomplaints about RVNs, although, as is the case withveterinary surgeons, the College will only investigatecomplaints that question an RVN’s fitness to practise, forexample, professional misconduct or criminal convictions.

Since the non-statutory Register for veterinary nurseswas introduced in September 2007, RVNs have been required to follow the Guide to ProfessionalConduct for Veterinary Nurses and keep their skills andknowledge up to date by means of continuingprofessional development.

The disciplinary procedures are modelled upon thosein place for veterinary surgeons, with complaintsreceived going through up to four consecutive stages.Each stage acts like a filter, determining whether or notthat complaint will be taken further or closed, withallegations of professional misconduct potentiallyreaching a Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee

(VN DC) hearing. This committee consists of two RVNs and the existing veterinary surgeons’ DC, and,like the veterinary surgeons’ DC, will sit in public andhave its findings published on the RCVS website(www.rcvs.org.uk).

Findings of serious professional misconduct may resultin an RVN being removed or suspended from theRegister of Veterinary Nurses. Until there is a change inthe law – something for which the RCVS is pressing –there are no powers to also remove an RVN from theList of Veterinary Nurses.

If a complaint is closed before it reaches VN DC, theRCVS may advise the RVN about professional behaviour,and tell the complainant the nature of the advice, butcan apply no other sanction.

Cause for complaint?Disciplinary procedures for RVNs now live

“The disciplinary procedures aremodelled upon those in place forveterinary surgeons.”


The introduction of the new Level 3 Diplomafull-time programmes mean that student VNs

can now gain work experience in different ways.Some students are employed by practices andsome undertake unpaid placement, the availabilityof which has opened doors to more studentswanting to train – one of our aims in introducingthe new qualification.

However, there are legal considerations in relation tounpaid placement, about which we reminded centreslast May. The following clarification has been providedto us by HMRC, and should be noted by both centresand practices hosting, or employing, student VNs:

• Full-time students undertaking a programme offurther (or higher) education may undertakeunpaid work experience of up to one year. As the minimum RCVS requirement (underthe VN Bye-laws) is in excess of thisamount, students in the later stages of theirprogramme should have the opportunity forpaid work experience. For these purposes, we would assume that one year includes thestatutory annual leave entitlement, ie equates to 48 weeks of actual placement.

• Special National Minimum Wage (NMW)requirements apply to apprentices, who must

be in paid employment, not unpaid placement. If theyare under 19, or in the first year of an apprenticeship,they may be paid a reduced apprenticeship rate(currently £2.50/hour); thereafter, they must be paidthe NMW applicable for their age group. Whereverstudents are placed on a specific apprenticeship(training) contract for the duration of their trainingthey classify as apprentices, whether or not they arein receipt of apprenticeship funding.

It transpires that some practices expect to retainunpaid placement students for more than one year. If there is any possibility that a student may need to

undertake more than one year in unpaidplacements, they must agree to this at thecommencement of training via a formalvolunteer agreement, not when they have

already undertaken a year of unpaid work. Such an agreement

must not amount, in effect, to an unpaidcontract of employment, and centresand practices are strongly advised toseek advice from HMRC in such cases.

Should you have further queries regarding the employment of students,please contact HMRC for advice

(www.hmrc.gov.uk ).

Employed or volunteer?Implications of unpaid placements

Since we started to offer exams online,students have been providing us with email

addresses. Whilst it’s good to be individual, thereare times when professional and private personasperhaps need to be kept separate. Emailaddresses used for professional purposes comeinto this category, and it’s getting a bitembarrassing for us, and our IT contractors, touse some of the more imaginative email contactsstudents send us.

May we suggest that centres either provide studentswith college email addresses (many already do this) orask students to create an alternative email address forwork use, based on their name? Hunnythebunny,pink.fairy, squeeze_me and littlemissnaughty maymake us smile, but perhaps aren’t creating the mostprofessional public image for veterinary nursing!

Leave the fairies at home…Plea for professional email addresses

What’s your role?Examinations and Higher Education Quality Manager

What’s your background?I started working in veterinary practice at the age of 16. After spending time in private practice and thePDSA, I decided to see a bit of England and took up aposition as a sales executive for a petfood company.This was an interesting job and I certainly visited townsand villages which I would not otherwise have seen. Ialso spent a long time stationary on the M25, so aftertwo years returned to practice. Prior to working at theRCVS, I managed an animal care NVQ course and wasappointed as an External Verifier (EV) for City & Guilds.I started working at the RCVS in 2002 as an EV andtook up my current position in 2007.

What do you do?My job is split into two distinct sections. I liaise withuniversities and HE-linked courses. This involvesattending validation events and overseeing themonitoring of the courses. In addition to this, I manage

the theory and OSCE examinations. This includestraining examiners, developing the content of the tests and carrying out the quality assurance checkspost-examination.

What’s been your biggest challenge?After spending ten years doing jobs which involveddriving, I am now primarily desk-based. Working in an office isso different from working inveterinary practice. I enjoythe days that I am able toescape and go on a visit.

Surprise us…I used to show myLhasa Apso and was once a finalist in the Junior Dog Handler of the Yearcompetition.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS


Do you know someone who has made anoutstanding contribution to veterinary nurse

training, or any other aspect of the VN profession?

Now’s your chance to ensure they get the recognitionthey deserve, because VN Council has launched a newaward to celebrate outstanding achievement, to markthe 50th anniversary of veterinary nursing.

The Golden Jubilee Award will recognise an exceptionalcontribution to the veterinary nursing profession and/or

a positive contribution to animal welfare.

VN Council strongly felt that theaward should be accessible to a wide spectrum of people, so nominees could come fromthose involved in clinicalpractice, research, teaching or

politics – in fact, any aspect of veterinary nursing.

Nominations should be received by 1 May 2011, andmore information, together with the nomination form,can be found online at www.rcvs.org.uk/VNat50.

The award will be presented at RCVS Day on 1 July 2011.

Looking back, looking forwardMeanwhile the date has been announced for ourgolden jubilee seminar – Thursday, 23 June 2011.

The theme of the day will be looking back/lookingforward, with the morning sessions celebrating whatthe profession has achieved during its first half-century,and the afternoon fielding some controversial speakersto challenge where the veterinary nursing professiongoes next.

The event will be invitation-only, although a number oftickets will be available on application. If you would liketo join the celebrations, please contact Fiona Harcourt,RCVS Events Officer, on [email protected].

New award to recognise contribution to the profession

Golden chance to celebrate

“The Golden Jubilee Award willrecognise an exceptionalcontribution to the veterinarynursing profession.”

Victoria Hedges RVNMeet the team


This year’s Vetnnet conference will be held in Oslo, on 29–30

September, and will be hosted by the Norwegian School of VeterinaryScience. The main theme will beteaching nursing as a science, withthe hot topics of rehabilitation andpain management, along with makingbest use of a nursing skills lab.

Vetnnet is the European association ofveterinary nurse educators and its annual

conference offers a variety of workshops,which are interesting for teachers andanyone supporting training students in the workplace.

Also on the agenda is internationalisation,especially the sharing of best education practice across international boundaries and the facilitation of student and teaching staff exchanges. For further information, please visitwww.vetnnet.com.

Vetnnet diary date

Our ‘Step Forward’ campaign, to celebrate 50years of veterinary nursing by encouraging

everyone to make the next move in their career,was launched at BSAVA Congress (Birmingham,31 March to 3 April).

To bring people to the stand to talk about what theirnext move might be – such as committing to training,joining the Register, taking the Diploma in AdvancedVeterinary Nursing or even standing for VN Council –we ran a competition which challenged people toidentify some animal footprints. Easy! Or so wethought… actually, of the 305 entries, only a third gotthe answers right, which were: dog, cat and hare.

We expected the hare might catch people out, buteven the dog and cat foiled some. The more bizarrewrong answers included:

• For the dog: fox, sea otter, cheetah, badger, sloth,bear, panther, pine marten or racoon

• For the cat: dog, wolf, bear, duck (?), tiger, polar bearor snow leopard

• For the hare: deer (most popular answer), sheep,cow, wild boar, pig, goat, frog, reindeer, alpaca, elkmoose or ferret

The winner was Alex Yeu, an RVN at Alfreton ParkVeterinary Hospital in Derbyshire, who will receive £100vouchers for Blacks. Fortunately, she enjoys steppingout: “I will probably spend the vouchers on a new coatfor walking my dog,” says Alex. “Winning thecompetition was unexpected and a nice surprise!Thank you very much!”

Follow in our footprints…We step out in style at BSAVA

Count those stepsAll those who took part in the competition were given RCVS-branded pedometers and encouragedto email the College to let us know howmany steps they take in a typicalday in practice. The informationwill be used in articles in theanimal-owner press to helpexplain the role of the VN in thepractice team.

If you missed BSAVA and wouldlike a pedometer, email LizzieLockett on [email protected]. If you picked one up, don’t forget tolet us know how far you walk! For moreinformation, visit www.rcvs.org.uk/step.

Oslo venue for September conference


EXAMS

One of the biggest challenges of the OSCEexaminations is to ensure standardisation –

candidates’ performance must be markedconsistently, regardless of the examiner or venue.However, up to seven examiners can be markingthe same OSCE at different sites during theexamination period… how do we tackle this?

Examiners are given detailed guidance against eachstep in the marking criteria, to ensure a standardisedapproach. This guidance is reviewed periodically toensure that it remains valid. In addition, examinersattend annual subject-specific standardisation todiscuss and agree any areas of the marking criteriathat might be open to variable interpretation. Importantly,we ensure as far as possible that the marking criteriaand examiner guidance are evidence-based.

Cockcroft and Holmes (2003) define evidence-basedpractice as “the use of current best evidence in makingclinical decisions”. The process of searching forevidence starts with a question. For example, whendeveloping OSCE TP04, there were discussionsamong the examiners regarding acceptable methodsfor folding surgical drapes in preparation forsterilisation. Some felt that the drape should be folded,others said that they would accept concertina foldsand a few said they would accept the drape beingrolled. Some were not aware of all methods being

discussed and it became apparent that, withoutspecific guidance, there would be a risk that a studentmight be marked as achieving the criteria by oneexaminer and not by another. To resolve matters, thefollowing steps were followed:

1. The question was identified. In this case, it was:“What are the acceptable methods for foldingdrapes?”

2. A search then took place among sources ofevidence (journals, textbooks, internet searches,research reports etc).

3. The evidence found was critically appraised to checkfor validity and reliability. It was accepted that morethan one method might be found and that themarking scheme would need to allow for this. In theevent of contradictory information, further researchwould be necessary to ascertain the most reliablemethod(s).

4. We trialled methods to ensure that the equipmentbeing made available to OSCE candidates wassuitable (we try all of our OSCEs on volunteerstudents during this stage).

5. The results of the trials were evaluated. Checks weremade to ensure that the methods noted in theexaminer guidance demonstrated best practice.

Gathering evidenceThe use of evidenced-based practice in OSCEs

We continue our series looking at some of theexam myths being perpetuated!

Myth: that the OSCE marking criteria for ‘demonstratesafe, effective and aseptic technique’ is subjective.Each examiner could have a different opinion of whatneeds to be achieved to pass this step.

Fact: this step usually appears on OSCE stationstesting aspects of nursing care. Examiners agree theguidance in relation to each step of the markingcriteria. The examiner guidance for this step details theparts of practical performance which must be correctlydemonstrated. This usually includes a combination ofother steps making up the marking criteria.

As a guide: • Safe = without harm or injury to the patient,

self or others

• Effective = producing the desired effect

• Aseptic = without the introduction of disease-causing micro-organisms

There are sometimes other steps within OSCEs thatalso relate to a combination of actions. In all cases, theexaminers will have agreed specific guidance as towhich parts need to be achieved.

Myth: the OSCE marking criteria are published to helpstudents revise for the examination.

Myths and legendsDon’t believe everything you hear…


• What is the finest hypodermic needle sizerecommended when administering ClamoxylLong Acting 150 mg/ml Suspension as asubcutaneous injection to a dog?

• How many published methods of foldingsurgical drapes can you find? Does it matter how they are folded?

• What is the correct way to replace clipper blades?

• Which size hypodermic needle is suitablefor an intramuscular injection for a cat?

• What methods are available to measureurine output accurately?

These are intended to stimulate thought anddiscussion; please do not call us for the answers!

ReferencesCockcroft PD, & Holmes M A (2003):Handbook of Evidence-Based VeterinaryMedicine, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.Pravikoff DS, Tanner AB & Pierce ST (2005):‘Readiness of US nurses for evidence–basedpractice’, American Journal of Nursing, 105 (9), pp 40-51.

Further readingBanks D (2010): ‘Evidenced-based practice in veterinary nursing’, The Veterinary Nurse, 3 (1), pp 136-139. Everitt S (2008): ‘Applying evidenced-basedveterinary medicine’, In Practice, (30), pp 526-528.

Students who question their results often saythat they carried out the OSCE in the way thatthey had been taught in college or in practice.The method used is often based on tradition,myth, hunches or outdated information. Sadly,unless a student can support their alternativeapproach to an OSCE station with reliableevidence, an examination appeal will be rejected.

Studies carried out among student nurses in the human field concluded that most nursespractised what they had learned in college andrarely used journals, research articles or otherliterature resources. If these nurses then go intoteaching they are also likely to teach what theylearned at college and not refer to literature(Pravikoff, Tanner & Pierce, 2005). It is thereforevitally important that those teaching theory or practical skills, whether they are a college-based lecturer or clinical coach, refer toevidence-based practice. Students should also be encouraged to carry out literaturesearches themselves by following the stepsoutlined above.

Research in veterinary nursing is a very recentconcept. But many aspects of the nursing rolemirror those which occur in nursing humans. It is therefore worth checking general nursingliterature when searching for the answer. Here are some questions to try – why not use them asthe foundation of a bank of referenceswhich can be shared with other studentsand clinical coaches?

Fact: the OSCE stations are published to providestudents, teachers and clinical coaches with a tool toenable practical skills to be taught and learned fromthe beginning of training.

Using driving as analogy, learner drivers are taughtsafe practice (as expected in the Driving Test) from dayone. Learning to drive one way for over a year and thentrying to ‘cram’ for a test using unfamiliar techniqueswould be a recipe for disaster, as well as beingpotentially lethal to other road users. Yet this appears tobe common in veterinary nurse training.

As part of the examiners’ training course we run mockexamination days, which students attend as ‘models’

for the trainee examiners. Recently, we tested handhygiene using the World Health Organisation (WHO)method. It was shocking that very few of the studentswere able to demonstrate this skill correctly, havingworked in clinical practice for at least 18 months. Theirexcuse: “We have not started revising for theexaminations”. Effective hand hygiene should besecond nature at this stage of training, not somethingto learn for an exam.

The OSCE stations address several key areas ofpractice where safety is critical and they provide anevidence-based method on which to base teaching.The various nursing procedure books give guidance on a much wider range of clinical skills. Please, pleaseuse them to teach practical skills from the outset. Don’t forget that the basics, such as hand hygiene, arerelevant to Animal Nursing Assistants and other laystaff, too. Not only will this improve your students’practical work and the safety of their patients, but theywill also find the final examinations a doddle.

“Effective hand hygiene should besecond nature at this stage oftraining, not something to learnfor an exam.”


EXAMS

Preparations are underway for the first 12-stationOSCE, which will be available for students

registered on the Level 3 Diploma in VeterinaryNursing. The existing OSCE stations have beenrevised and have now been published online(www.rcvs.org.uk). At first sight it may look asthough they have undergone major change, but, in reality, the scenarios and marking criteriaessentially remain the same. Each OSCE stationhas been referenced to the relevant award (NVQ or Level 3 Diploma) and reclassified intofive new categories:

1. Laboratory Diagnostics (LD)2. Diagnostic Imaging (DI)3. Theatre Practice (TP)4. Supporting Anaesthesia (SA)5. Nursing Care (NC)

A brief description of the OSCE will appear alongsidethe code on the website. This will help when searchingfor specific OSCEs. Small animal and equine OSCEsare no longer categorised separately. There is a charton each detailing which award(s) the OSCE will test.

Some of the scenarios have been reworded, and thepatient’s weight will no longer appear on the scenario;instead, this will appear on the patient record cardprovided at the relevant station.

The published OSCEs contain details of the previouscode and the date it was last amended. For the firsttime, colleges will be provided with the publishedinformation in electronic format to place on their intranet.Updated versions will be sent as they become available.

Finally, candidates will be pleased to hear that the oralquestions have been removed, although examinersmay ask a question to clarify something that thestudent has demonstrated. For example, in diagnosticimaging, the examiner may ask a candidate to clarifythe landmarks used for centring and collimation.

To be eligible to apply to enter the examination,students must have attempted, and preferably passed,all other assessments (internal and external).

All change for OSCE stationsRevised OSCEs now published online

The Awarding Body receives a steady stream of requests for ‘reasonable adjustments’ in

relation to examinations. A reasonable adjustmentis any action that helps reduce the effect of apotentially disadvantaging disability. The majorityof these applications relate to changes requiredfor the RCVS Theory or OSCE examinations.However, we rarely receive reasonableadjustment requests for assessments carried outwithin a centre. This either means that centresaren’t making adjustments, or that they are notinforming the RCVS, as they should.

For all but the most minor of adjustments, permissionmust be sought from RCVS Awards. Recentapplications include:• An interpreter for someone who has English as a

second language

• A dyslexic student who required additional time in the examinations

• A student requesting examination information beprovided in a large font

Each of these applications has been made only inrelation to the RCVS examination. Do these studentsnot require similar considerations for centre-basedassessment, or are centres agreeing reasonableadjustments without the awarding body’s permission?

Please remember that all assessments set out in theQualification Handbook are summative, which meansthat all reasonable adjustment requests must beapproved by us. Failure to comply could result innullification of the assessment. Further details of therelevant policy, and reasonable adjustment applicationforms, can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vnawards.

Ensure we are aware of reasonable adjustment

Advise us on adjustment


Anumber of new OSCE stations have beendeveloped over the past 12 months. As

reported elsewhere, new OSCEs go through anintensive period of trialling and review prior tobeing published.

Ear, earThe first of these being finalised for publication falls intothe Laboratory Diagnostic (LD) category. Candidateswill be tested collecting an aural sample from a patient.They will then be requested to package the sample fordispatch to an external laboratory. We are using amodel dog fitted with a penrose drain, providing arealistic external auditory meatus. The model dog isfrom the Faithful Friends range and a variety ofequipment will be provided to allow students to packthe sample to meet UN packaging instruction P602.

Feed upAnother OSCE will test candidates’ ability to feedpatients via a naso-oesophageal tube. For this OSCE,we are using a model cat from the FurReal range.Candidates will be expected to choose a suitable dietfrom a selection of commonly available commercialdiets and, using the information provided, will beexpected to calculate the quantity of food required.Finally, candidates will need to demonstrate theadministration of the chosen diet.

Taking the measureAnother model dog has beeninstalled with an indwellingurinary catheter connected toa urine collection system.Candidates will be requiredto demonstrate the routinechecks they make in relation tocare of the patient’s catheter.The quantity of urine expected tobe produced will be calculatedand this amount compared tothe quantity actually produced.

The FurReal model cats are alsobeing used for OSCEs that willtest students on theadministration of fluid therapyand medication via theintravenous route. The modelfoal from the Hansa rangecurrently used for

administration of medication will be used for the equineversion of these OSCEs.

The model used for the new LD OSCE describedabove is also suitable to administer medication to theear. This OSCE is currently being written.

In Nursing Care (NC) there are a couple of OSCEsbeing developed based on preparation of the hospitalaccommodation.

Theatrical rehearsalsFor Theatre Practice (TP) a model is also beingdeveloped which will be suitable to demonstratepatient skin preparation prior to a surgical procedure.We are also looking into the feasibility of usingdisposable surgical gowns instead of the cotton onescurrently available.

Once the trials have been completed, the final versions will be published online. It is normal procedure for an OSCE tobe published for at least threemonths prior to being used inthe examination.

New challenges aheadNew OSCE stations in the pipeline


COMMUNICATIONS

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticeda new sleeker dove on the front cover of your

VN Standard. The perkier bird comes from the newlogo for the awarding body.

You will also notice that the name has changed slightly– we are now RCVS Awards – although the awardingbody function remains the same.

The new logo was developed as part of a comprehensiveoverhaul of the look and feel of College communications,although it retains the colour and the dove symbol that have become well recognised since the launch ofthe new awarding body identity in 2006.

The purpose the College-wide review – which last tookplace over a decade ago – was to modernise theCollege’s presentation and better reflect its core role asa statutory regulator. The new College logo, which youcan see on the back page of this newsletter, also has anew strapline – setting veterinary standards – which we

hope will dispel some of the confusion about the College’sfunction that research revealed to be present amongboth the public and the profession. We’ve not lost ourcoat of arms, though, and it will still take pride of place onmore ceremonial items, such as certificates and scrolls.

The new look was launched in mid-March with a newwebsite, which was produced following researchamongst our site visitors. A key part of the new site is adedicated section for RCVS Awards, where all of theinformation for centres, TPs and students can be found.

We’ve also added new features, such as a ticker-tapeto flag up site-changes, news and deadlines; pictorialbanners; quick links from the home-page; and, socialmedia bookmarks. There are new sections for animalowners and the RCVS Charitable Trust, too.

Feedback so far suggests it’s easier to find theinformation visitors want: do take a look and let usknow what you think.

Watch the birdie…New logo and website for RCVS Awards

Separate sections forstudents, employersand centres

Improved search functions for thewhole site, and dedicated searchtools for Guides to ProfessionalConduct, publications, documentsand the news archive

A dedicated subsite forthe RCVS Charitable Trust

A subsite for the Find aVet search tool, includingoptions to find trainingpractices and RCVS-accredited practices. This section also includesinformation for animalowners on choosing, andusing, a veterinary practice

Social media linksand RSS feed

Latest news and viewsfrom the College

‘Quick links’ topopular areas

Ticker-tapefeed for quickupdates

Photographicbanners tohighlightresponsibilitiesand ongoingactivities


The RCVS Charitable Trust is giving a boost to the VN profession in its Golden Jubilee year, as its Director, Cherry Bushell, explains.

RCVS Charitable Trust supports the profession

New Trust boost for VNs

To celebrate this landmark year, and in closeconsultation with leading veterinary nurses,

the RCVS Charitable Trust has developed adedicated programme of new grants and activities.The programme aims to encourage veterinarynurses to push the boundaries of their roles, andto make a unique difference to animal care.

Our ambition is to become a better resource andadvocate for veterinary nurses, and to deliver betteranimal health and welfare through the unique strengthsof the profession.

The objectives of the programme are to:• Support veterinary nurse practical education with

equipment grants• Inspire veterinary nurses to lead changes and

innovation in practice• Empower veterinary nurses to disseminate their

knowledge and experience

Equipment grants for VN training centres In 2010, the Trust opened up the equipment grantswhich are available to veterinary schools to accreditedVN training centres for the first time. In 2011, the awardswill be exclusively awarded to VN training centres,equating to £20,000 in total. Up to five organisationalawards will be available for training centres to bid for from April. Go to the website for details(www.rcvstrust.org.uk), or get yourself added to thegrants alert list by emailing [email protected].

Nurse clinics – principles and practice In partnership with the BVNA, we are creating a trainingproduct for nurses in practice who would like to runtheir own health clinics, but need the confidence andstart-up skills to get going. We hope to provide training,advice and ongoing support.

Driving practice innovationLast year, a final-year student at Harper Adams got intothe news with her dissertation on the effects of music

on feline patients in the veterinary environment. It wasn’tthe first attempt to study the effects of music on veterinarypatients, but it was a good example of where apparentlyminor changes can make big differences to practice.

We believe that practice innovation can come as muchfrom these practical, small-scale changes as from thosedriven by clinical improvements and management needs.We want to inspire and encourage veterinary nurses touse their unique vantage point to change and improvepractice. We will be consulting with centres, regionalgroups and practices with a view to sparking ideas anddeveloping the best projects that emerge. [email protected] to be added to the alert list.

Changing behaviour Veterinary nurses are ideally placed to use their expertiseto engage young people in caring for their pets at home,and encouraging them to greater understandingand empathy for all animal needs. We will run a pilot to work with a school or other group to explore aproject that has the potential to roll out to other schoolsand organisations. An initial fund of £5,000 has beenset aside for this programme.

For more information about all of these initiatives, visitwww.rcvstrust.org.uk.

RCVS TRUST

A canine mannequin was purchased by Harper Adams in 2010, thanksto the Spencer Hill Equipment Award

“We want to inspire and encourageveterinary nurses to use theirunique vantage point to changeand improve practice.”

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF www.rcvs.org.uk

CONTACTS AND DATES


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Libby Earle: Head of Veterinary NursingAnnette Amato: Deputy Head of Department,

Awarding Body Board Secretary,Secretary to VN Council

Julie Dugmore: Quality assurance and EV liaisonVicky Hedges: Examinations and higher education

quality assuranceChristine James: Centre approvals and monitoring

Amy Woods: Student enrolments, careers adviceJenny Orme: Award certificates, registration for

newly-qualified nursesBen Myring: Examinations

Practical examinations

Summer 2011

Closing date for entries 13 May

Exam weekend 17 – 19 June

Results published 21 July

Autumn 2011

Closing date for entries 12 August

Exam weekend 16 – 18 September

Results published 20 October

Winter 2011

Closing date for entries 4 November

Exam weekend 9 – 11 December

Results published TBC

Spring 2012

Closing date for entries 2 March

Exam weekend 30 March – 1 April


Theory examinations (e-assessment)

Spring 2011

Results published 21 April

Summer 2011

Closing date for entries 6 May

Appointment booking window 6 June – 1 July

Exam week 4 – 16 July

Results published 25 August

Winter 2011

Closing date for entries 16 September

Appointment booking window 17 October – 11 November

Exam weeks 14 – 25 November

Results published 10 January

Spring 2012

Closing date for entries 20 January

Appointment booking window 13 February – 9 March

Exam weeks 12 – 25 March


CONTACTING US | E: [email protected]: 0207 202 0788 | F: 0207 222 2004

Who does what…

Printed by an ISO 14001 certified printer using 100%vegetable-based inks on a totally chlorine-free FSC certifiedstock www.sterlingsolutions.co.uk

This issue of VN Standard brings you up to date on all things RCVS Awards-related. But if you are one of the more than 550

people who follow us on Twitter, some of it will be old news to you!

We launched our Twitter account (@RCVS_UK) in September last year, andsince then have been tweeting two or three times a week with news andupdates on College and RCVS Awards activities. It’s where you will hear thenews first, so why not follow us today? We look forward to hearing from you.

The Trust has also recently joined the twittersphere, so while you’re in thetweeting mood, follow them too, on @RCVSTrust.

Early bird catches the newsSign up to Twitter for the first byte

VN STANDARD - RCVS

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